I see in your Q&A section you shoot jumping outside the ring.
Any particular reason as most of the shows I've worked the judge
and ring steward are still in the ring. And have you had any
problems with riders/owners upset with such a big flash from
outside the ring?

Have you looked at using digital yet or at least scanning the
negs in and proofing to a large screen and printing out inkjet
"proofs" when needed? The lag time in the new generation
autofocus Nikon F5's and Canon EOS is virtually nil now. So
I'm not sure if that could be considered a factor now or not.
(if one was to go 100% digital I don't believe a digital back
on a Blad or Rollie can flash sync fast enough yet.)

I asked you about a year ago if you had any seminars planned.
At the time you thought you would not be doing so as you thought
your Q&A on the site would be enough. I'm not so sure. There are
technical/business questions I would like to address that I feel
(from past experience) only some personal hands on experience
works better. So should you ever change your mind please let me
know.

Thanks

Ed ConnerConner Photography

A.

Dear Ed,

Thanks for your letter. I am REALLY very happy that you asked
these questions since digital photography is at the forefront
of thinking photographers, most of whom are literally scared to
death of digital since it would be a new learning experience.

As to whether photographing Hunters and Jumpers in or out of the
ring is best, it depends on the quality of the exhibitors...Usually
novice exhibitors without much ring experience are scared witless
that you are going to mess up their go. (of course you aren't, but
they need someone to blame their bad horsemanship on) So when you
are shooting a class or a show that consists mostly of (bad)
amateurs or (bad) junior exhibitors it is best to stay out of the
ring. Otherwise shooting from inside the ring will give the
exhibitor the best photos. Of course, from inside, try to stay
away from direct head-on shots, since these might very well
startle the horses.

Ed, the use of the auto-focus feature on cameras is not desirable
or at all useful for horseshow photography. The photographer must
be able to photograph the horse at the proper time of his gait at
an angle shows the rider and horse in good balance. This plus the
manner of showing proofs and business management will make the
successful entrepreneur.

I have been helping a photographer get started using digital and
she is doing very well. She photographed about fifteen shows last
year, and has done well financially. She does not show proofs on
a screen, but shows 16 proofs per 8x10 page using a Kodak dye-sub
printer. She shoots with the new Kodak digital camera and Norman
300-C strobe set at 100 watt seconds. She has a half dozen type-3
171 MB PCMCIA hard drives, switching them between classes. This
allow the showing of proofs within minutes after each class at a
show. She shoots primarily Miniature, Walking and Racking Horse
shows, since that is the area that she is most comfortable in at
this time.

The completed ordered photos are computer driven and done on a Fuji
Pictrograph 3000, which produces an absolutely perfect photographic
quality print, with the additional capability of computer
manipulation of the image if needed or desired. The storage of all
the images at the show are transferred to CD's for storage, which is
much easier then the maintenance of negatives..

I have finished my horse shows for the rest of the year, at least
until March of 2000, so you are free to contact me and I will
endeavor to help answer any questions in any depth you desire.